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Ayah
Word by Word
إِنَّ
Indeed
ٱلۡمُنَٰفِقِينَ
the hypocrites
يُخَٰدِعُونَ
(seek to) deceive
ٱللَّهَ
Allah
وَهُوَ
and (it is) He
خَٰدِعُهُمۡ
who deceives them
وَإِذَا
And when
قَامُوٓاْ
they stand
إِلَى
for
ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ
the prayer
قَامُواْ
they stand
كُسَالَىٰ
lazily
يُرَآءُونَ
showing off
ٱلنَّاسَ
(to) the people
وَلَا
and not
يَذۡكُرُونَ
they remember
ٱللَّهَ
Allah
إِلَّا
except
قَلِيلٗا
a little
إِنَّ
Indeed
ٱلۡمُنَٰفِقِينَ
the hypocrites
يُخَٰدِعُونَ
(seek to) deceive
ٱللَّهَ
Allah
وَهُوَ
and (it is) He
خَٰدِعُهُمۡ
who deceives them
وَإِذَا
And when
قَامُوٓاْ
they stand
إِلَى
for
ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ
the prayer
قَامُواْ
they stand
كُسَالَىٰ
lazily
يُرَآءُونَ
showing off
ٱلنَّاسَ
(to) the people
وَلَا
and not
يَذۡكُرُونَ
they remember
ٱللَّهَ
Allah
إِلَّا
except
قَلِيلٗا
a little
Translation
The Hypocrites - they think they are over-reaching Allah, but He will over-reach them: When they stand up to prayer, they stand without earnestness, to be seen of men, but little do they hold Allah in remembrance;
Tafsir
The hypocrites seek to trick God, by manifesting the opposite of what they hide in themselves of unbelief, in order to escape His rulings in this world; but He is tricking them, He will requite them for their trickery, and so they will be disgraced in this world through God apprising His Prophet of what they hide, and punished in the Hereafter. When they stand up to pray, with the believers, they stand up lazily, reluctantly, and, for their prayers, to be seen by people, and they do not remember, pray [to], God save a little, for ostentation.
"
Hypocrites Wait and Watch what Happens to Muslims
Allah says;
الَّذِينَ يَتَرَبَّصُونَ بِكُمۡ
Those who wait and watch about you;
Allah states that the hypocrites watch and await the harm that occurs to the believers, awaiting the time when the Muslim circumstances and religion are dissolved and the state of Kufr takes over.
فَإِن كَانَ لَكُمۡ فَتۡحٌ مِّنَ اللّهِ
if you gain a victory from Allah,
triumph, aid and booty,
قَالُواۡ أَلَمۡ نَكُن مَّعَكُمۡ
they say, ""Were we not with you'!'
trying to come closer to the believers with this statement.
However,
وَإِن كَانَ لِلۡكَافِرِينَ نَصِيبٌ
But if the disbelievers gain a success,
by gaining victory over the believers sometimes, just as occurred during Uhud, for surely, the Messengers are tested, but the final victory is theirs.
قَالُواۡ أَلَمۡ نَسۡتَحۡوِذۡ عَلَيۡكُمۡ وَنَمۡنَعۡكُم مِّنَ الۡمُوۡمِنِينَ
they say (to them), ""Did we not gain mastery over you and did we not protect you from the believers!""
meaning, did we not help you in secret and try our best to confuse the believers and weaken their resolve, until you gained victory over them!
This statement of the hypocrites is an attempt to strengthen relations with the disbelievers, because they pretend to be friends with both parties so that they will be safe from their harm, due to their weak faith and lack of certainty.
Allah said,
فَاللّهُ يَحۡكُمُ بَيۡنَكُمۡ يَوۡمَ الۡقِيَامَةِ
Allah will judge between you (all) on the Day of Resurrection.
meaning, by what He knows about you, O hypocrites. Therefore, do not be deceived by being shaded under the protection of Islamic Law in this life, which is such only out of Allah's wisdom. Surely, on the Day of Resurrection, your pretending shall not benefit you, because on that Day, the secrets of the souls will be disclosed and the contents of the hearts will be collected.
Allah said,
وَلَن يَجۡعَلَ اللّهُ لِلۡكَافِرِينَ عَلَى الۡمُوۡمِنِينَ سَبِيلً
And never will Allah grant to the disbelievers a way (to triumph) over the believers.
Abdur-Razzaq recorded that Yasi Al-Kindi said,
""A man came to Ali bin Abi Talib and said, `What about this Ayah,
وَلَن يَجۡعَلَ اللّهُ لِلۡكَافِرِينَ عَلَى الۡمُوۡمِنِينَ سَبِيلً
(And never will Allah grant to the disbelievers a way (to triumph) over the believers),
Ali said, `Come closer, come closer. Allah will judge between you on the Day of Resurrection, and He will not grant victory for the disbelievers over the believers.""'
Ibn Jurayj recorded that Ata' Al-Khurasani said that Ibn Abbas said that,
وَلَن يَجۡعَلَ اللّهُ لِلۡكَافِرِينَ عَلَى الۡمُوۡمِنِينَ سَبِيلً
(And never will Allah grant to the disbelievers a way (to triumph) over the believers),
""Will occur on the Day of Resurrection.""
As-Suddi recorded that Abu Malik Al-Ashjai said that;
it occurs on the Day of Resurrection.
As-Suddi said that;
""way"" means, proof.
It is possible that;
the meaning of, `and never will Allah grant to the disbelievers a way (to triumph) over the believers', is in this life by being unable to exterminate the believers completely, although they sometimes gain victory over some Muslims. However, the Final Triumph will be for the believers in this life and the Hereafter.
Allah said,
إِنَّا لَنَنصُرُ رُسُلَنَا وَالَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواۡ فِى الۡحَيَوةِ الدُّنۡيَا
Verily, We will indeed make victorious Our Messengers and those who believe in the worldly life. (40:51)
This provides a rebuttal to the wishes of the hypocrites for the destruction of the believers, and their loyalty to the disbelievers, fearing for themselves if they are victorious.
In another Ayah, Allah said,
فَتَرَى الَّذِينَ فِي قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ يُسَارِعُونَ فِيهِمۡ
And you see those in whose hearts there is a disease (of hypocrisy), they hurry to their friendship, until,
نَادِمِينَ
(Regretful). (6:52)
The Hypocrites Try to Deceive Allah and Sway Between Believers and Disbelievers
In the beginning of Surah Al-Baqarah we mentioned Allah's statement,
يُخَادِعُونَ اللّهَ وَالَّذِينَ امَنُوا
(They (think to) deceive Allah and those who believe). (2:8)
Here, Allah states,
إِنَّ الۡمُنَافِقِينَ يُخَادِعُونَ اللّهَ وَهُوَ خَادِعُهُمۡ
Verily, the hypocrites seek to deceive Allah, but it is He Who deceives them.
There is no doubt that Allah can never be deceived, for He has perfect knowledge of the secrets and what the hearts conceal. However, the hypocrites, due to their ignorance, scarce knowledge and weak minds, think that since they were successful in deceiving people, using Islamic Law as a cover of safety for themselves, they will acquire the same status with Allah on the Day of Resurrection and deceive Him too.
Allah states that on that Day, the hypocrites will swear to Him that they were on the path of righteousness and correctness thinking that such statement will benefit them with Allah.
For instance, Allah said,
يَوۡمَ يَبۡعَثُهُمُ اللَّهِ جَمِيعاً فَيَحۡلِفُونَ لَهُ كَمَا يَحۡلِفُونَ لَكُم
On the Day when Allah will resurrect them all together; then they will swear to Him as they swear to you. (58:18)
Allah's statement,
وَهُوَ خَادِعُهُمۡ
(but it is He Who deceives them) means,
He lures them further into injustice and misguidance. He also prevents them from reaching the truth in this life and on the Day of Resurrection.
Allah said,
يَوۡمَ يَقُولُ الۡمُنَـفِقُونَ وَالۡمُنَـفِقَـتُ لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواۡ انظُرُونَا نَقۡتَبِسۡ مِن نُّورِكُمۡ
On the Day when the hypocrites ـ men and women ـ will say to the believers:""Wait for us! Let us get something from your light!"" It will be said:""Go back to your rear! Then seek a light!"" until,
وَبِيۡسَ الۡمَصِيرُ
(And worst indeed is that destination). (57:13-15)
A Hadith states;
مَن سَمَّعَ سَمَّعَ اللهُ بِهِ وَمَنۡ رَاءَى رَاءَى اللهُ بِه
Whoever wants to be heard of, Allah will make him heard of, and whoever wants to be seen, Allah will show him.
Allah's statement,
وَإِذَا قَامُواۡ إِلَى الصَّلَةِ قَامُواۡ كُسَالَى
And when they stand up for Salah, they stand with laziness.
This is the characteristic of the hypocrites with the most honored, best and righteous act of worship, the prayer. When they stand for prayer, they stand in laziness because they neither truly intend to perform it nor do they believe in it, have humility in it, or understand it. This is the description of their outward attitude!
As for their hearts, Allah said,
يُرَاوُونَ النَّاسَ
to be seen of men,
meaning, they do not have sincerity when worshipping Allah. Rather, they show off to people so that they gain closeness to them. They are often absent from the prayers that they can hide away from, such as the Isha prayer and the Dawn prayer that are prayed in darkness.
In the Two Sahihs, it is recorded that the Messenger of Allah said,
أَثۡقَلُ الصَّلَةِ عَلَى الۡمُنَافِقِينَ صَلَةُ الۡعِشَاءِ وَصَلَةُ الۡفَجۡرِ وَلَوۡ يَعۡلَمُونَ مَا فِيهِمَا لَاَتَوۡهُمَا وَلَوۡ حَبۡوًا وَلَقَدۡ هَمَمۡتُ أَنۡ امُرَ بِالصَّلَةِ فَتُقَامُ ثُمَّ امُرَ رَجُلً فَيُصَلِّي بِالنَّاسِ ثُمَّ أَنۡطَلِقَ مَعِيَ بِرِجَالٍ مَعَهُمۡ حُزَمٌ مِنۡ حَطَبٍ إِلى قَوۡمٍ لَا يَشۡهَدُونَ الصَّلَةَ فَأُحَرِّقَ عَلَيۡهِمۡ بُيُوتَهُمۡ بِالنَّار
The heaviest prayers on the hypocrites are the Isha and Dawn prayers. If they know their rewards, they will attend them even if they have to crawl.
I was about to order someone to pronounce the Adhan for the prayer, then order someone to lead the prayer for the people, then order some men to collect fire-wood (fuel); then I would burn the houses around men who did not attend the (compulsory congregational) prayer.
In another narration, the Prophet said,
وَالَّذِي نَفۡسِي بِيَدِهِ لَوۡ عَلِمَ أَحَدُهُمۡ أَنَّهُ يَجِدُ عَرۡقًا سَمِينًا أَوۡ مِرۡمَاتَيۡنِ حَسَنَتَيۡنِ لَشَهِدَ الصَّلَاةَ وَلَوۡلَاا مَا فِي الۡبُيُوتِ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ وَالذُّرِّيَّـةِ لَحَرَّقۡتُ عَلَيۡهِمۡ بُيُوتَهُمۡ بِالنَّار
By Him, in Whose Hand my soul is, if anyone of them had known that he would get a bone covered with good meat or two (small) pieces of meat between two ribs, he would have turned up for the prayer, and had it not been that the houses have women and children in them, I would burn their homes around them.
Allah's statement,
وَلَا يَذۡكُرُونَ اللّهَ إِلاَّ قَلِيلً
And they do not remember Allah but little.
means, during the prayer they do not feel humbleness or pay attention to what they are reciting. Rather, during their prayer, they are inattentive, jesting and avoid the good that they are meant to receive from prayer.
Imam Malik reported that Al-Ala' bin Abdur-Rahman said that Anas bin Malik said that the Messenger of Allah said,
تِلۡكَ صَلَةُ الۡمُنَافِقِ
تِلۡكَ صَلَةُ الۡمُنَافِقِ
تِلۡكَ صَلَةُ الۡمُنَافِقِ
يَجۡلِسُ يَرۡقُبُ الشَّمۡسَ حَتَّى إِذَا كَانَتۡ بَيۡنَ قَرۡنَيِ الشَّيۡطَانِ قَامَ فَنَقَرَ أَرۡبَعًا لَا يَذۡكُرُ اللهَ فِيهَا إِلاَّ قَلِيلً
This is the prayer of the hypocrite, this is the prayer of the hypocrite, this is the prayer of the hypocrite.
He sits watching the sun until when it goes down between the two horns of the devil, he stands up pecks out four Rak`ahs (for Asr) without remembering Allah during them except little.
Muslim, At-Tirmidhi and An-Nasa'i also recorded it.
At-Tirmidhi said ""Hasan Sahih"".
Allah's statement
مُّذَبۡذَبِينَ بَيۡنَ ذَلِكَ لَا إِلَى هَـوُلاء
(They are) swaying between this and that, belonging neither to these,
means that the hypocrites are swaying between faith and disbelief. So they are neither with believers inwardly or outwardly nor with disbelievers inwardly or outwardly. Rather, they are with the believers outwardly and with the disbelievers inwardly. Some of them would suffer fits of doubt, leaning towards these sometimes and towards those sometimes.
كُلَّمَأ أَضَأءَ لَهُم مَّشَوۡاۡ فِيهِ وَإِذَا أَظۡلَمَ عَلَيۡهِمۡ قَامُواۡ
Whenever it flashes for them, they walk therein, and when darkness covers them, they stand still. (2:20)
Mujahid said;
مُّذَبۡذَبِينَ بَيۡنَ ذَلِكَ لَا إِلَى هَـوُلاء
((They are) swaying between this and that, belonging neither to these),
""The Companions of Muhammad,
وَلَا إِلَى هَـوُلاء
nor to those:
the Jews.""
Ibn Jarir recorded that Ibn Umar said that the Prophet said,
مَثَلُ الۡمُنَافِقِ كَمَثَلِ الشَّاةِ الۡعَايِرَةِ بَيۡنَ الۡغَنَمَيۡنِ تَعِيرُ إِلى هَذِهِ مَرَّةً وَإِلَى هَذِهِ مَرَّةً وَلَا تَدۡرِي أَيَّتَهُمَا تَتۡبَع
The example of the hypocrite is the example of the sheep wandering between two herds, sometimes she goes to one of them, and sometimes the other, confused over whom she should follow.
Muslim also recorded it.
This is why Allah said afterwards,
وَمَن يُضۡلِلِ اللّهُ فَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُ سَبِيلً
and he whom Allah sends astray, you will not find for him a way.
meaning, whomever He leads astray from the guidance,
فَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُ وَلِيًّا مُّرۡشِدًا
(For him you will find no Wali (guiding friend) to lead him (to the right path)) (18:17) because,
مَن يُضۡلِلِ اللّهُ فَلَ هَادِيَ لَهُ
(Whomsoever Allah sends astray, none can guide him). (7:186)
So the hypocrites whom Allah has led astray from the paths of safety will never find a guide to direct them, nor someone to save them. There is none who can resist Allah's decision, and He is not asked about what He does, while they all will be asked.
The Prohibition of Wilayah with the Disbelievers
Allah
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ امَنُواۡ لَا تَتَّخِذُواۡ الۡكَافِرِينَ أَوۡلِيَاء مِن دُونِ الۡمُوۡمِنِينَ
O you who believe! Do not take disbelievers as friends instead of believers.
Allah forbids His believing servants from taking the disbelievers as friends instead of the believers. This includes being friends and associates of the disbelievers, advising them, being intimate with them and exposing the secrets of the believers to them.
In another Ayah, Allah said,
لااَّ يَتَّخِذِ الۡمُوۡمِنُونَ الۡكَـفِرِينَ أَوۡلِيَأءَ مِن دُونِ الۡمُوۡمِنِينَ وَمَن يَفۡعَلۡ ذَلِكَ فَلَيۡسَ مِنَ اللَّهِ فِي شَىۡءٍ إِلَا أَن تَتَّقُواۡ مِنۡهُمۡ تُقَـةً وَيُحَذِّرۡكُمُ اللَّهُ نَفۡسَهُ
Let not the believers take the disbelievers as friends instead of the believers, and whoever does that, will never be helped by Allah in any way, except if you indeed fear a danger from them. And Allah warns you against Himself. (3:28)
meaning, He warns you against His punishment if you fall into what He has prohibited.
This is why Allah said here,
أَتُرِيدُونَ أَن تَجۡعَلُواۡ لِلّهِ عَلَيۡكُمۡ سُلۡطَانًا مُّبِينًا
Do you wish to offer Allah a manifest Sultan against yourselves!
meaning, proof against you that warrants receiving His torment.
Ibn Abi Hatim narrated that Ibn Abbas commented;
سُلۡطَانًا مُّبِينًا
(manifest Sultan),
""The word Sultan in the Qur'an means proof.""
There is an authentic chain of narration for this statement, which is also the saying of Mujahid, Ikrimah, Sa`id bin Jubayr, Muhammad bin Ka`b Al-Qurazi, Ad-Dahhak, As-Suddi and An-Nadr bin Arabi.
The Hypocrites and the Friends of Disbelievers are in the Lowest Depth of the Fire, Unless they Repent
Allah then states that
إِنَّ الۡمُنَافِقِينَ فِي الدَّرۡكِ الَاسۡفَلِ مِنَ النَّارِ
Verily, the hypocrites will be in the lowest depths of the Fire;
on the Day of Resurrection due to their tremendous Kufr.
Al-Walibi (Ali bin Abi Talhah) said that Ibn Abbas said,
فِي الدَّرۡكِ الَاسۡفَلِ مِنَ النَّارِ
(in the lowest depths (grade) of the Fire),
means, in the bottom of the Fire.
Other scholars said that;
the Fire has ever lower depths just as Paradise had ever higher grades.
Ibn Jarir recorded that Abdullah bin Mas`ud said that,
إِنَّ الۡمُنَافِقِينَ فِي الدَّرۡكِ الَاسۡفَلِ مِنَ النَّارِ
(Verily, the hypocrites will be in the lowest depths (grade) of the Fire),
""Inside coffins of Fire that surround them, for they are closed and sealed in them.""
Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that when Ibn Mas`ud was asked about the hypocrites, he said,
""They will be placed in coffins made of fire and they will be closed in them in the lowest depth of the Fire.""
وَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُمۡ نَصِيرًا
no helper will you find for them.
to save them from their misery and painful torment.
Allah then states that whoever among the hypocrites repents in this life, Allah will accept his repentance and sorrow, if his repentance were sincere and he then follows it by performing righteous deeds, all the while depending on his Lord.
Allah said
إِلاَّ الَّذِينَ تَابُواۡ وَأَصۡلَحُواۡ وَاعۡتَصَمُواۡ بِاللّهِ وَأَخۡلَصُواۡ دِينَهُمۡ لِلّهِ
Except those who repent (from hypocrisy), do righteous good deeds, depend on Allah, and purify their religion for Allah,
replacing showing off with sincerity, so that their good deeds will benefit them, even if they were minute.
فَأُوۡلَـيِكَ مَعَ الۡمُوۡمِنِينَ
then they will be with the believers.
on the Day of Resurrection.
وَسَوۡفَ يُوۡتِ اللّهُ الۡمُوۡمِنِينَ أَجۡرًا عَظِيمًا
And Allah will grant to the believers a great reward.
Allah then states that He is too Rich to need anyone and that He only punishes the servants because of their sins.
مَّا يَفۡعَلُ اللّهُ بِعَذَابِكُمۡ إِن شَكَرۡتُمۡ وَامَنتُمۡ
Why should Allah punish you if you have thanked (Him) and have believed in Him.
by correcting your actions and having faith in Allah and His Messenger.
وَكَانَ اللّهُ شَاكِرًا عَلِيمًا
And Allah is Ever All-Appreciative (of good), All-Knowing.
Allah appreciates those who appreciate Him, and has knowledge of those whose hearts believe in Him, and He will give."
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